I don’t like to call it “disorder.” I call it a response. It’s a complex set of multiple responses.
CPTSD is an umbrella term for all the disorders we discussed so far. It encompasses the alterations that happen in a human being when they’re exposed to extreme stress and trauma that lasts for months to yes—does not stop.
People out there talk about “PTSD from narcissistic abuse,” but in this context there is no such thing. The only thing that makes sense here is complex post-traumatic stress.
Why? PTSD is applicable to individuals exposed to one singular traumatizing event—like a car accident or someone’s death. CPTSD is applicable to individuals whose trauma was never-ending—chronic and complex.
CPTSD explains every single change, every trauma response you’re experiencing.
What diagnostic criteria does CPTSD include?
It encompasses every alteration you’re struggling with, including:
- memory issues
- emotional flashbacks
- rumination
- trust issues
- a major moral wound
- chronic self-doubt and lack of self-trust
- issues trusting others
- physical health issues
- fatigue
You can run a simple Google search for “diagnostic criteria for CPTSD” and you’ll see your life described in front of you.
There is one exclusion though: trauma bonding and cognitive dissonance. The diagnostic criteria for CPTSD doesn’t talk about these two because they’re atypical symptoms of trauma.
Atypical symptoms are symptoms you wouldn’t see in “typical” survivors in the general population. These are more exclusive to survivors of narcissistic abuse.
How do you heal CPTSD?
Healing from a lifetime of trauma is a journey. You have to work on your body, your brain, your health, and your social connections. Many things—you have to do to become whole again.
The truth is: I’ve been through this healing, and I can tell you it’s like being born again. You know how difficult it is to recreate a personality after having none—or after having a disorganized, dismantled personality? When you create one, it takes immense strength. But it’s worth it. It takes patience. It takes work. It takes sweat and blood—but you have to do it. There is no other option.
Where do you start?
Start with stabilization—stabilizing your system.
Stabilization comes from the triphasic model of trauma treatment given by Judith H. Herman, the pioneer in this field. You can read her book, Trauma and Recovery. It explains everything beautifully.
Stabilization is stabilizing your nervous system and stabilizing your environment. It does not begin with exploding trauma. Let’s not aim for catharsis that traumatizes you even more. Calming your systems down is the beginning—and the first step—for any recovery from complex trauma.
So those were five major mental illnesses caused by narcissistic abuse, along with tips for recovery.
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